Traverse winding apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. V. ALTICE ETAL TRAVERSE WINDING APPARATUS Jan. 22, 1963 Filed March 27, 1961 1963 M. v. ALTICE ETAL 3,074,286

TRAVERSE WINDING APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,074,286 TRAVERSE WENDING APPARATUS Maryland "Virginia Altlce, New Castle, and Vincent Howard Waldin and Warren Curlett Taylor, Wilmington, Del, assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del. a corporation of Delaware Filed Mm. 27, 1%1, Ser. No. 98,588 15 Claims. (Cl. 74-59) This invention relates generally to the traverse winding of yarn at high speeds and more particularly to improvements in the cam and rail assembly of a winding apparatus.

conventionally such an assembly includes a rotatablydriven barrel cam having a continuous groove in which the follower portion of a reciprocating yarn guide travels. The guide is constrained to a linear path of travel by a pair of rails which are bolted or otherwise fastened to the assembly frame in such a manner as to make it both difiicult and time consuming to disassemble the rails for the replacement of a worn guide. There are similar problems involved in positioning and aligning the rails on the frame. Optionally, the cam and rail assembly may be provided with an independent cover or housing for protecting the equipment as well as its operator.

The most important object of the present invention is to provide for the quick and easy replacement of a worn guide in a traverse winding apparatus.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of improvements in a cam and rail assembly by means of which the precise alignment of interrelated parts is facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to provide guide rails which are not only capable of extended use, but also may be replaced easily.

These and other objectives are accomplished in a cam and rail assembly which includes a pair of spaced circular end supports on each of which a stop is peripherally mounted. A pair of opposed arcuate cover members are positioned against the stops, the latter being radially aligned. The first cover member is mounted for sliding movement relative to the peripheral surfaces of the supports whereas the second cover member is fixedly attached. Each member has a longitudinal edge to which a formed rail is bonded. Means are provided to hold the first cover member against the stops which thus function to maintain the rails in proper spaced relationship.

Other objectives will become apparent in the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FEGURE 1 is a side elevation of the instant cam and rail assembly, parts having been broken away and shown in section to reveal details of the inner construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stop shown in assoiation with the upper rail and cover member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the hairpin springs shown in FlGS. l and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the stop shown in FIGS. l3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternate embodiment of the means for holding the slidable cover member against the stops;

FlGS. 7 and 8 are bottom and side views of the cam member shown in FIGS. 6 and 9; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of the cover lock shown in FIG. 6.

The cam and rail assembly chosen for purposes of illustration may be used, for example, in a winding apparatus of the type disclosed by Alzers in US. Patent No. 3,008,658 and includes generally as components thereof a pair of end supports 10, 12, a rotatably driven barrel cam 14, a bridge 16, elongated upper and lower cover members 18, 28, and a yarn guide 22. A guide which is particularly suited for use with the present assembly has been disclosed by Altice and Waldin in copending application Serial No. 859,323, filed December 14, 1959.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the end supports Ill, 12 have stepped peripheral surfaces 24, 26, 28, a bearing housing Sll and a bore 32. Barrel cam 14 has a shaft 34 which is journaled in a bearing 3d located in each bore 32. Yarn guide 2 2' includes a follower portion which travels in a continuous, generally helical cam groove 38 in the surface of cam 14 and is constrained to a reciprocating near path of travel by rails 4 42 which are bonded to the aligned longitudinal edges of cover members 18, 2d.

The upper arcuate member 18 is slidable relative to intermediate surfaces 26 in covering relationship to cam 14. Member 18 overlaps and fits beneath flange portions 44 of bridge 16. it is urged downwardly into engagement with stops as by the action of hairpin springs 48 which are fastened to the inner surf-ace of bridge 16 as at 58*. Each stop 46 is provided with a through passage 47 (PEG. 3) for a suitable fastener by means of which it is attached to an end support, in a longitudinally extending radial groove 51 (PEG. 2) provided therefor in outer cylindrical surface 24.

The lower cover member so also fits against the intermediate surfaces 26 on end supports lo, 12 and is held thereon by a pair of tabs so which are attached to the end supports, in notches 64%, by suitable fasteners 62. Although the fasteners 62 are threaded to an end support, tabs an overlap a portion of cover member 28', within notches 66, and thus wedge the cover member into engagement with stops as. The latter are radially aligned and therefore function to locate and position rails 49, 42 with respect to each other and with respect to the rotational axis of barrel cam lid. Thus, the spaced, parallel and aligned relationship of the rails is assured.

T he assembly is mounted on cradles 52, 54 in which it is positioned by a pair of pins 56, 58 projecting from the housing 3h. Cradle 54 has been omitted from FIG. 2 for purposes of clarity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover member 18 has a V- groove 68 machined in its lower longitudinal edge and has bonded thereto a formed rail insert 40 which, on its exposed side, is generally complemental to the shape of the opposed V-notches in stops 46. It should be noted that the stop 46 of FIG. 3 is that which would be located at the left end of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

The rail inserts 40 may be formed from a suitable heattreated, wear-resistant material such as Ohio die steel by drawing or machining. Uusally, they are specially drawn to the desired shape, heat treated and electrolytically coated with copper. After a liquid solder has been brushed into groove 68 (FIG. 3), the parts are clamped together and brazed. When an insert has become worn or damaged, it is removed by tapping one end with a hammer whereupon the insert may be peeled from its associated V-groove 68 and replaced as described above. In this respect, the upper and lower cover members are substantially identical.

Each hairpin spring 48 has a pair of legs projecting from an eyelet 7t and terminating in specially shaped feet 72 which engage the upper edge of a cover member 18 and urge the latter into engagement with stops 46. One foot 72 of each of the springs 48 engages the upper edge of the cover member 18 shown in FIG. 1. As is apparcut from FIG. 2, the other leg of each spring 48 is on the opposite side of a vertical centerline. In this location, they engage another cover member 18 (not shown) corresponding to that which has been described herein.

3. Thus, a single cam assembly functions as an integral-component of two separate back-to-back windups.

. T he, alternate embodiment shown in FIG. consists of a cylindrical pin or stop 46' which has opposed V-notches for the reception of rails 40', 42*and which is press fitted into a radial opening provided-therefor in the surface 26 of each end support member 10, 12.

When used in combination with the other elements of a suitable winding apparatus, the cam and rail assembly disclosed herein operates conventionally in that guide 22 travels between rails 40, 42 and is reciprocated by the camming action of groove 38. After extended use at high speeds, the guide and rails 40, 42 are subject to wear. If it is only the guide which requires replacement, this may be accomplished quickly and easily by sliding cover member 18 upwardly against the bias of springs 48. When a new guide is in place, springs 48 again urgecover member 18 and rail 40 into the associated V-notches of stops 46. If a rail becomes worn or damaged, it is only necessary to remove and replace one of the cover members 18, 20 with a spare. This also can be done in a minimum of time in view of the manner in which stops 46 function to align rails 40, 42 precisely.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-9, upper cover member 18' overlaps and fits beneath bridge 16. Cover member 18' is provided with a slot 74 which receives a shoulder 76 of knurled cam 78. The latter has an eccentric bore 80 within which a stud 82 is freely rotatable. Stud 82 is fixedly. attached to cover member 18' and is in threaded engagement with a knurled lock nut 84. When lock nut 84 is disengaged, cam 78 may be rotated to raise and lower cover member 18' with respect to stops 46 (FIG. 1). When the cam lock is set, shoulder 76 engages cover member 18' within slot 74 and holds rail 40 against stops 46. Replacement of a cover member is facilitated by removal of nut 84 and cam 78 from stud 82.

It is apparent that other changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed cam and rail assembly without departing from the spirit of the present invention which is therefore intended to be limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim:

1. Ina traverse winding apparatus, a cam and rail assembly comprising: a frame including a pair of spaced endsupports; a stop mounted on each, support; a cover member mounted on said supports for sliding movement toward and away from said stops, said cover member hay: inga first rail structure bonded thereto and adapted for engagement with said stops; a second rail structure fixedly attached to said endsupports in engagement with said stops on the opposite side thereof from said first rail structure; andmeanson said frame in engagement with said cover member for releasably holding said first rail structure against said'stops, said structures having a reciprocating guide positioned therebetween. t

2. The cam and rail assembly of claim l wherein the holding means is a spring.

3. The cam and rail assembly of claim 1 wherein the holding means is a cam.

4; In a traverse winding apparatus, a cam and rail assembly comprising: a frame including a pair of spaced end supports; stop means on each support; a pair of elongated rail structures spanning the distance between said supports, oneof said structures being mounted onthe supports for-sliding movement toward and away from the stop means, the other structure being fixedly attached to the supports in engagement with said stop means onthe opposite side thereof from said one structure; and means on the frame in engagementwithsaid one structure for 'releasably holding the latter against said stop means, said structures having a reciprocating guide positioned, therebetween. 7

5. The cam and rail assembly of claim 4 wherein the holding means is a spring.

6. The cam and rail assembly of claim 4 wherein the holding means is a cam.

7. In a traverse winding apparatus, a cam and rail assembly comprising: a pair of spaced end supports having generally circular peripheral surfaces; a stop mounted at the periphery of each support, said stops being radially aligned; a firstelongated arcuate cover member mounted for sliding movement relative to said surfaces and having a longitudinal edge adapted for engagement with said stops; means in engagement with said first member for releasably holding the latter against said stops; and a second elongated arcuate cover member fixedly attached to said supports, said second member having a longitudinal edge in engagement with said stops on the opposite side thereof from said first member, said edges having a reciprocating guide positioned therebetween.

8. The cam and rail assembly of claim 7 wherein said longitudinal edges have formed rails bonded theretoand said stops have opposed notches for receiving and positioning said rails.

9. A cam and rail assembly comprising: a support; a barrel cam rotatably mounted on said support and having in its surface a continuous groove; a cam follower in said groove; a pair of rails mounted on said support in spaced parallelism with the rotational axis of said cam, at least one of said rails being slidably mounted for movement toward and away from the other rail; and resilient means on said support in engagement with said one rail for biasing the latter toward the other rail, said rails having the follower positioned therebetween.

10. In a traverse-winding apparatus a cam and rail assembly comprising: a pair of spaced end supports; a first elongated cover member mounted for sliding movement relative to said supports; a second elongated cover member fixedly attached to said supports, said members having aligned parallel longitudinal edges, said edges each having an elongated rail bonded thereto and having a reciprocating guide positioned therebetween; and spring means in engagement with said first member for urging the member and the rail thereon toward the rail on said second member.

11. A cam and rail assembly comprising: av pair of spaced end supports having generally circular peripheral surfaces; a barrel cam rotatably mounted between said supports and having in its surface a continuous groove; a follower in said groove; a first elongated arcuate cover member bridging the distance between and mounted for sliding movement relative to said surfaces; a second elongated arcuate cover member fixedly attached to said supports; spring means in engagement with said first member for biasing it toward said second member, said members having aligned parallel longitudinal edges having the follower positioned therebetween.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein i provided a stop on each end support, said stops being radially aligned and having opposed notches for receiving said edges.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein each end support has a stop projecting therefrom, said stops being radially aligned and having opposed notches for receiving said edges.

14. In a traverse winding apparatus, a cam and rail assembly comprising: a frame including a pair of spaced end supports and a bridge spanning the distance between the supports; a stop mounted on each support; a first elongated cover member mounted on said frame for sliding movement relative to said supports; a second elongated cover member fixedly attached to said supports, said members having aligned parallel longitudinal edges, said edges each having an elongated rail bonded thereto and having a reciprocating guide positioned therebetween; and a cam movably mounted on said bridge, said cam having a surface normally in engagement with said first cover member for releasably holding the rail thereon in engagement with said stops.

15. A cam and rail assembly comprising: a frame including a pair of spaced end supports having generally circular peripheral surfaces; a barrel cam rotatably mounted between said supports and having in its surface a continuous groove; a follower in said groove; a stop mounted at the periphery of each support, said stops being radially aligned; a first elongated arcuate cover member mounted for sliding movement relative to said surfaces and having a longitudinal edge; cam means on said frame, said cam means including a surface normally in engagement with said first cover member for releasably holding the longitudinal edge thereof against said stops; and a second elongated arcuate cover member fixedly attached to said supports, said second member having a longitudinal edge in engagement with said stops on the opposite side thereof from said first member, said edges having said follower positioned therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,107 Gerow Nov. 17, 1868 459,039 Foster Sept. 8, 1891 1,657,181 Sande Jan. 24, 1928 2,216,990 Taylor Oct. 8, 1940 2,225,623 Crawford Dec. 24, 1940 2,251,838 Baker Aug. 5, 1941 10 2,573,415 Ebert Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 219,099 Australia Dec. 2, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Mechanical Springs-Their Engineering and Design, copyright 1944, received Pat. Off. Jan. 24, 1945, Div. 46 (only pages 53, 96 are pertinent). 

1. IN A TRAVERSE WINDING APPARATUS, A CAM AND RAIL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED END SUPPORTS; A STOP MOUNTED ON EACH SUPPORT; A COVER MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTS FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID STOPS, SAID COVER MEMBER HAVING A FIRST RAIL STRUCTURE BONDED THERETO AND ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOPS; A SECOND RAIL STRUCTURE FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID END SUPPORTS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOPS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF FROM SAID FIRST RAIL STRUCTURE; AND MEANS ON SAID FRAME IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COVER MEMBER FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID FIRST RAIL STRUCTURE AGAINST SAID STOPS, SAID STRUCTURES HAVING A RECIPROCATING GUIDE POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN. 